Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Alright, I've got a question regarding Heartfelt beads.

I recently ordered a 100ct humi this past week and decided to order some Heartfelt beads to use instead of the Drymistats I've been using in my old 50ct.

I understand that having too much is not an issue and can be beneficial so I went with the extra large 65% tube (4oz). I have been reading up on how to properly charge the beads and understand that it's preferable to leave some dry to absorb excess moisture.

My question is this- would there be any benefit to fully charging the extra large tube (4oz) on the bottom of the humi and having a dry medium tube (1oz) on the top shelf to absorb excess moisture?

Am I over thinking this? Should I just charge the extra large as recommended and leave it be?

Sorry for the long post. I look forward to your responses. Thanks.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

You are over thinking this. I have a few pounds of HF beads and HCM beads too. Just follow the directions and you will be fine. Make sure you season your humi properly and get a quality hygro, preferably a digital model as they seem to work better IMHO. Get one you can adjust, do a salt test on the hygro and you are good to go.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Thanks for the response. Lots of good advice.

This new humi will be seasoned for at least a week or until I'm satisfied it's ready. I'm in no hurry as my other humis are doing quite well on their own at the moment. I plan on consolidating into the 100ct, adding 5 or so sticks at a time. I have a digital hygrometer that is adjustable and has been calibrated using the Bovida calibration pack. I agree, digital is the way to go. It is much more accurate than the analog hygro that came with my 50ct.

I've gone from using foam to gel but this will be the first I have used the beads. From everything I have read, the beads are the way to go. I look forward to trying them.

Thanks again for the advice.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Both HF and HCM beads are great. Super easy with low maintenance. All my humi's and totes are rock solid on humidity.

Sounds like you are on a great path.

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Yeah, tell that to my credit cards, lol. Now if I could just stay away from the devil site....:bh

Thanks again.

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How do you all clean the interior glass of a humidor? I would think windex on a paper towel should be fine but I'm afraid of residual scent affecting my precious goodies. Should I do a simple water vinegar solution and leave the lid open for a bit to let it air dry completely?

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That is what I do.

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Thanks Michael, I feel better hearing this and knowing I wont muck up my sticks.

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A quick question. I have been trying to find out what best type of lighter is. Good ole butane torch lighter or my handy dandy zippo. I was told Zippo as the butane lighters will "torch" the foot of the cigar but been told the fuel for zippos can actually taint the flavor of the cigar. Any opinions or insights into this or is this like the celo argument, just a personnel preference.

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Just a personal preference.

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Ronson Jet Lite, $4, sleek metal look, $4, last forever, if you loose it buy another, $4, available EVERYWHERE CVS wallmart ect, works just as good as a SJ Dupont lighter!

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I often use a soft flame, but when I do, it's still butane. A cheap Bic lighter is a good example. I also have a Colibri soft flame I like a lot. Personally, I don't like a Zippo because of the odor/flavor it "adds".:2

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ok guys, so I've been reading through this whole forum, I'm on page 80 but here's my question. I just got my new humidor in today (upgrading from a 50 ct to 100) Right now I have a shot glass of distilled in there with my humidification device. Has anyone tried the Humi-care Black ice? http://www.cigarsinternational.com/h...umidification/

I want to make sure it's going to put out and also absorb moisture.

I also got the hydro-set hygrometer, it's sitting in a broveda (SP?) calibration bag and the 60 cigars that came in today are sitting in their cello in a tupperware with a shot glass of distilled.
am I missing any steps? I don't have the space to freeze these but I may do it in my tenants freezer after I read the instruction thread a bit more carefully.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

as for humidification i am using this

hcm beads

havent had a problem with humidity since i put these in my wineador and i will never use anything else :2

take the shot glass out of the tupperware of cigars, there is no way to regulate the humidity it is giving off leaving you with over moist/wet cigars. the cigars will be fine while you are seasoning your humidor, or you can hit the b&m up for a boveda pack while you are waiting.

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Do you need humidification in Houston? :sh

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I have to keep the humidity down at 65 where I like it and the beads keep it there

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:tu

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Houston, I dunno, down on the coast I don't. I can't remember the last time I looked at my beads.

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So Guys I just read all 111 pages and I want to say thank you for all the great info. I'm sure I'll be back to ask a question. Going to try to jump into a same trade this week.

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A lot of good info indeed.
Here's another tidbit. The number of posts per page is a user setting. I set mine to 50 per page so for me this thread is 45 pages.

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The first thing i loed for was that setting. I'll have to go look again

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User CP > Edit Options

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I<3 pnoon. I've been bouncing off the padded walls of this asylum for over 3 years and didn't know we could do that.

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:tu

Glad to have helped.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

It does pay to take the time to look through all of your profile options :tu :tu

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So I got a cigar mechanic from cheap humidors for my 100 count. My humidor is at 70 rh right now and I want to get it down to 62-ish, but I over saturated the beads....how do I get it down?

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Couple options. Let them sit out for a bit on counter. Will slowly release. Another option is too take blow dryer too them. I had too take a blow dryer too mine when I first saturated them.

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How long does the hair dryer take? I had it going on them for about 15 minutes. I decided to put them in an empty humidor with some older dried up cigars in hopes those will pull out some of the moisture...I also ordered another cigar mechanic just in case.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Not familiar with cigar mechanic, but they look like they react like regular beads. When wet they turn clear, when dry they are white. So hit them with the blow dryer till they are white. But it still may take a few weeks if not longer to get the humidity down to where you want it.

Re: Cigar Blogs
 

I have recently purchased a moist-n-air for my humidor cabinet and was wondering do I have to use distilled water or regular.

Re: Cigar Blogs
 

Distilled water

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Recently I got a new humidor. I believe I have properly seasoned it by putting a bowl of distilled water in it, leaving it there for 10 days. Yesterday I inserted a bead cylinder (65 rH), making the per cent of the distilled water hydrated beads 70%, after having calibrated the hygrometer. Finally I loaded a 5-pack.

I'm thinking that the rH of the humidor will be low after leaving it closed for 24 hours; that the humidification of the humidor will take a few days.

My question is at what rH of the humidor can I smoke a cigar as I'm thinking that there will be a reading that will indicate that the cigars are at a reasonable humidity. Also, I wonder in the future how long a recently purchased cigar should rest in correct humidity before I can assume it has made the humidity transition from the retail outlet and my humidor.

Thanks in advance for replies!!

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Not a beginner but what puzzles me how the same cigar from the same box can be a dog rocket and the next one a holy grail experience because I believe it's how clean or what I drank or ate before starting the cigar.

Anyway what do you do to clean your palate before starting a cigar to make sure the stick gets a fair start?

I now brush my teeth beforehand and drink water or coffee when smoking
Thanks

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Best way I've found to cleanse me palate is to eat a small piece of chocolate. Usually carry a few small Hersey chocolates with me when I'm smoking to eat between sticks. :2

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Thanks Mac, I forgot about the chocolate trick, will try that one for sure

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Chocolate works great, but recently I've been finding that ginger ale works pretty well. I pour a small glass and just take a sip or two whenever I feel the palate needs to be freshened up a bit.

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Newbie question: what does CC and NC stand for?

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CC Cuban Cigar
NC Non-Cuban Cigar

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CC = Cuban Cigars
NC = Non-Cuban Cigars

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HA! Bite me Mets fan!

Eli here is a thread with all the things you might come across as far as acronyms and terms.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...ht=cigar+terms

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Bite THIS Red Sox fan!

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I had a feeling that's what they stood for, but I wasn't entirely sure.

Thanks for the link :tu

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Sticky threads in each of the sub-forums are very helpful and informative.

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I've had expensive Duponts and a flashy Zino cutter. They're both gone or not working. The cheapo plastic cutters are well.. cheap crap. However, the cuban crafters steel (guillotine) one is super cheap (like $20) sharp, and will help you judge how deep to cut. Plus it has a lifetime replacement warranty. It's not fancy looking, but def worth at try. And yes, a guillotine is most common in the US. Try it, then if you want can pick up a nice punch to hang on your key chain later. Good scissors are expensive, a pain and not good for travel, the v-cut... well not my thing, for sure.

FYI, Colibri has terrible support around their lighters. Look for something you can get repaired easily.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

You do realize that the post you quoted is over five years old, right? :sh

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Whoops, no. Hey, maybe it'll come in handy during a search...!

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is it normal to feel like an ass ordering online, as opposed to purchasing at a B&M?

they're no B&M's within 100 miles of my home, but one really awesome B&M near where i work, that i try to visit when i have a chance, which ain't often.

started to make a purchase at CI the other day, and really felt like an ass for doing it.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Not normal.

No one should have regrets ordering online. Just continue to support your B&M

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I have a locker at my b&m, but their selection isn't huge. So I buy what I can from them and everything else from online. Typically I will also buy accessories (cutters, lighters, bovedas, etc) from my b&m since they make more money on those items.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Why feel like an ass? The quality is just as good and the selection is sometimes better. I get most of my smokes online. I make about two trips a month to my B&M because I can try new things, get the scoop on upcoming events, and support a local business.